So, remember when I went to Chicago?
I’m just now finding a minute to write about all that,
so forgive the vast rewind- as per usual, I create my own
time-space continuum and all that.
I find myself in a hulking city packed with bodies
and marvel as I let myself be buffeted like a bit o’ flotsam
down the human river. So many facets of life’s vicissitudes
moving all around me. I love to get lost in that thick
stream, to wonder about lives and languages and stories.
It’s what I love most about big cities, and what would no doubt
drive me mad if I lived in one for a long time.
If you’re even a little bit empathic, it can be quite overwhelming
to be constantly surrounded by minds on all sides-
though in smaller doses, it’s a sublime delight.
This Egyptian Temple had been converted into a climate-controlled storage unit facility.
Guaranteed to keep the contents of your canopic jars fresh, and your mummified cats
perfectly preserved for all eternity. The night-watchman’s a Setian Priest, no doubt.
We had the pleasure of staying in the marvelous sprawling apartments of Elena Brocade,
though she was on honeymoon in Cairo until the very end of our visit. Romantical!
It was wonderful to explore her world- it is truly a wonderland of exotic plants, ostrich
feathers, intriguing books, mannequins, puppets and fancy hats. In other words, paradise.
Elena is a very talented and inspiring creature- she’s an aerial artist, amazing all with her
feats on the static trapeze, silks, and Spanish web. Strength, grace and incredible fashion sense-
all wrapped up into one sassy package of sinew, satin and sequins. We totally raided her closet,
which has a whole section devoted to nothing but jumpsuits! Her costumes are the best, ever.
Check her out! Also, if you saw Public Enemies recently, that was her looking all dusty and consumptive
and clutching at Johnny Depp’s arm after making him egg-salad sandwiches. She’s a movie star!
An amazing shop window downtown- little did I know, it was done by a
good friend of Lady Lavona’s. Infinitesimally small world we wander through.
This was glued to the wall in Elena’s kitchen. Sexy!
Appetite-stimulating! I wish I could read the whole comic.
Grandmother Wolf.
Al and Raven, (very tipsy and adorable) were our trusty guides to Chicago’s nightlife.
It was so good to hang out with these dear ones- I had missed them both enormously.
We went new-wave dancing at Neo, and it was hilarious.
Chartreuse + soda and Bauhaus. Almost like being 15 in New Orleans again!
Hunger in our bellies led us to a glowing bastion in the night, the only thing open-
(aside from that hot-dog stand where all the drunk asshats harass the hot-dog ladies.)
The Golden Nugget! It was filled with faux-art-nouveau stained glass,
southwestern themed frosted glass and grumpy waitresses!
Also, greasy blinis! Perfection. Latkes at 3am, so happy-making.
Obligatory 4am post-nightclub late-night diner bathroom photo.
Back at Elena’s the next morning we discovered some grisly evidence.
Curtains, for you
Magic doorways.
Have you ever tasted durian? Do you adopt ancestors?
I want this iridescent peachy wallpaper, please.
Elena’s sad soldier sculpture. He looks like a peat bog man to me.
This is Diana. She works at The Red Apple Polish Buffet.
She became our friend, first because of her amazing outfit and hot accent-
but then because she played good music just for us in our private room,
and was totally amenable to being kidnapped and taken to the beach.
Diana, we love you! Run away with us, and then take us to Poland with you!
The Polish toy shop, where I had to get dragged out of here, and was thus prevented
from buying heaps of faded birthday cards with kittens and indecipherable greetings.
Lukewarm Dude Puma. Need I say more?
I sat by this window, and read this book about Michael Jackson. It was strange.
Okay, next time I go to Chicago it’s going to be for more than just a couple
of days- so I need lots of suggestions for wondrous and interesting things
I need to experience there. Pony up! I love wandering around aimlessly,
but please make me a magic map of destinations. It’s such a fantastic city-
tell me your stories about it, won’t you? What must I simply not miss?
10 Comments
fun! great photos!
I love durian! The texture is weird, and the smell doesn’t bother me because…I can’t really smell. But the taste is awesome. I freeze mine and make smoothies with it.
I was going to introduce myself in your last post but I got kinda shy I guess.
I do adopt ancestors! This is Dorian: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30851413@N04/3234286682/in/set-72157613044812877/
I don’t know who he is, but he was too beautiful not to rescue.
Girlfriend, you just let me know when you’re coming and I’ll hook you up! JoJo hosts the wildest dance party called the Boom Boom Room on Monday nights…he and his co-host Sal-E have been dressing up for years and get photographed before they go out every week. They just got a book publishing deal and it’s gonna be awesome! Also, Clive Barker has been coming to Chicago to film JoJo and he’s going to put out a documentary about him!!! He also belongs to the Chicago chapter of the Sister of Perpertual Indulgence and is a tribal brother of the Radical Fairies!
I will take you to his magickal gallery and we can have a gypsy tea party…I can give you a Tarot reading! I know this city like the back of my hand…I’ve lived here all my life! My God, I wish I knew you were in town! Next time!
Check out these flickr sets:
JoJo’s gallery:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theclubcreatures/sets/72157603769746943/
JoJo Baby & SAL-E:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85788678@N00/sets/72157621835723859/
You should totally dress up as a wolf woman for Halloween!
Just dedicate a day to hop on the El and ride around. My great-grandfather used to steal tin from the tin-seller, sell it back to him, and use the change to ride the train all day…drunk on communion wine he and the other altar boys had stolen from the cellar…
On the North side, there is a bizarre Alice-in-Wonderland-themed vegetarian restaurant.
Humboldt Park has some of the best food in America, period. Cheap.
Metropolis Cafe for Mexican hot cocoa on cold days.
Play bace with old men near Lincoln Square, then eat at one of the polish restaurants.
Printer’s Row on the South Side.
Chinatown. Pick out a nice peking duck and a jar of ginseng.
See a show in any of the old movie houses.
Then venture out to the strange, strange world of “Chicagoland”. If you dare…
LIN:
Lovely to make your acquaintance!
Thank you for reading, and for introducing yourself- I love Miss Kallisti,
everything she does is so fabulous. I also adore the opera- what’s your favorite?
LATERNAMAGICA:
Oh, I wish I’d had you as my guide when I was there- next time!
Your grandfather and my grandfather should be friends- who knows,
perhaps they were! Stranger things have happened..
LAVONA:
Oh man.. Now I’m crying! I want to go back and do it all over again,
with more time, and your company! I would love to trade readings with you
someday. I’ve started accepting new querents recently, and it feels good
to be doing that work again. I missed it! Tell your friend JoJo how captivated
I was by his magic window, won’t you?
LORRA:
Do you have anosmia? That’s one of my worst fears.
I have weird smell thing that comes and goes, and also lots of terrible sinus issues-
so sad! Durian smoothie! I will have to try it sometime..
So nice to meet you, lovely.
Fantastic spin on Chicago. I have been there enough and not seen some of these things; so I should reconsider the city. Where is the toy shop? I also desperately need to acquire more ancestors and stay away from the durian!
Have you discovered these fantastic dolls?
http://www.enchanteddoll.com/galleries/costumed.html
Hey you take very nice pictures, you framed them so nicely. fun to see my place through your eyes.
talk soon my lovely lady
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